Chapter Director's corner

Carl & Jan Breeding
Chapter Directors GWRRA AL-H Athens Eagle Wings

Talk about beautiful weather for motorcycling! We had an absolutely perfect riding day on Saturday the 29th of October, and the forecast calls for more of the same here in the Sunny Southland. I encourage you to be out and about on your bikes while the weather holds. I have missed out on some of the riding I would have liked to have done, but the weather has definitely not to blame.

We offered A Trike Rider’s Course (TRC) to Chapter U in Dothan and a Team Riding Seminar and a Road Captain’s Course for our chapter during October. I thank all who attended, both as participants and as helpers! The fifth of November we are traveling to Dothan to present an Advanced Rider’s Course (ARC) for Chapter U and the folks from the Upper Corner of Lower Alabama (UCLA) as the Army refers to that area. We expect a sizable turnout there.

On November 11 we plan to participate in the Huntsville Veteran’s Day parade. We will meet at 8am for breakfast at IHOP, 6151 University Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806. Depart at 9:30am to go to the staging area off Clinton Ave.

At the next Ride Planning meeting, 7 January, 2017 at Kurt and Lynne Chadwick’s home, 2 PM we plan to start asking the members to sign up to plan the routes for the rides being planned. We would like to have pre-planned rides for the use of the riders and for anyone who needs to join up on the way or to depart early on the way back. More discussions will be forthcoming on this.

Remember that the chapter Christmas Party will be at IHOP on 8 December at 6:30. If you wish to participate in the Dirty Santa, be thinking about gifts to bring. We recommend a $20 maximum cost.

We encourage you to invite your friends who ride to visit our meetings. There is no requirement to own a bike in order to belong to GWRRA and participate in our activities. The more people we have attending events, the more ideas will be brought forward for future activities.

Ride often, ride safe.

Carl & Jan Breeding
Chapter Directors
Alabama Chapter H

News from Your District Directors

Frank & Linda TeasleyAlabama District Directors

Greetings fellow riders, “fall is finally here”! Problem is that you wouldn’t know it by the 80-degree temps outside! We hope all are taking advantage of this extended riding season to enjoy so fine riding time.

We attended the Mississippi District Rally the first part of the month and as usual, Harry and Diane Schaffer and the entire District Team put on a great event for everyone. The weather was fantastic with lots to do and see. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is beautiful this time of year and of course plenty of seafood for everyone to enjoy. We had three great days there. If you didn’t make it this year we hope you will make plans to be there next year at the same location in Gulfport. We hope to see you there.

The annual Veterans Day parade in Birmingham, the oldest and largest in the country, is scheduled for Nov 11th in downtown Bham. We are registered for the event and we would really like to have a great turnout again this year. Details will be sent to all the Chapter Directors and posted on the District website as soon as we receive them. Please make plans to join us there.

Please mark your January calendars for Jan 14 for the annual Alabama District Officers conference in Gardendale, Al at the Gardendale Civic Center. Chapter Directors, please try to have all of your chapter officers there if possible and remember your financial reports are due that day. If you have any questions about the new financial report please contact our District Treasurer, Sarah Leech. Her contact info is posted on the District website if needed.

In closing, please remember all of our men and women in uniform and all of our first responders and families. These folks serve and protect us each day. We hope to see all of you out on the road,

Frank and Linda Teasley

A Note from Your District Educators

October has been a blur, one would think I was getting older, or something. We taught a TRC in Dothan at the Troy State Campus, Thanks to James Clayson and Bruce Williamson from Chapter U for setting that up for us. The classroom facility was great, the range area was a little tight, but workable. We had nine trikes and 12 participants. Jan and I stayed over and taught a Motorist Awareness Seminar on Sunday; enabling some of the members to move up to Level III.

We also presented a Group Riding Seminar at our home on 2 October for seven members and have a Road Captain Course scheduled for 30 October, also at our home.

The next education is Saturday, 5 November, back at Troy State in Dothan. If any of the ARC instructors are free, I could really use a hand. The help I had expected had to back out, and I am seeking a replacement.

I would recommend that with the cooler weather the chapters start surveying their membership to see what classes and seminars they are in need of. Most of us would rather devote time to classwork when the weather is not conducive to outside activities. Many of the chapters have Seminar presenters, Roy and Anita Fosnight are the Leadership Training gurus for the District, Robert and Gail Brown are the Medic First Aid Coordinators, and I will do what I can to provide riding courses within the constraints of available ranges and instructors.

Ride safe, Call a friend.

Carl & Jan

A Note from our Alabama District Membership Enhancement Coordinators

Well, by the time this gets published and posted on line, the rallys and chapter fun days will be all but over for the year. Now is the time to get busy selecting a Chapter MEC Of the Year, an Individual Of the Year and your Couple Of the Year.

I need your Chapter MEC of the Year paper work back to me by Jan 1st.

I need your Individual of the Year back by Jan 15th.

Please let Terry and Barb Cleveland know who your COY’s are.

NEWSLETTERS: There are new rules and turn-in times for them. I need your Newletters by the 10th of December. I have to have time to get them sent off to some chapter outside of Region A to be judged and get them back to turn in to Region in Jan.

October has been a really busy month. If you have not participated in something, shame on you for there was plenty going on.

A lot of folks have complained about the heat being too hot to ride; now they will say it is too cold. I don’t understand the reasoning for that. Why did you buy a motorcycle, you knew it was going to be hot or cold or wet or dry.
The next few months will be a good time for chapters to start setting up some education classes. We have not had a Safety Weekend in a couple of years, so a lot of your class’s are expiring. ARC, TRC, MFA, Co Rider, and Road Captain courses are just a few. You can ask neighboring chapters to join you to fill up a class.

Chapter U is having an ARC course Nov 5th and still has a few empty slots left. Look on the web page to find it and to get signed up. Some of us who are going will have to travel over 200 miles to get there, but it's worth every bit of it.

1. Make the Crust: Place the Oreo cookies in a large ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin. The pieces should be in small crumbs, but still a little chunky, not completely fine crumbs. Set aside ½ cup of the crumbs for the topping, then transfer the remaining crumbs to a 9x13-inch pan and use a fork to mash them up a bit. Pour the melted butter over top and use the fork to combine, making sure that all of the crumbs are moistened. Press into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate while the cream cheese layer is prepared.

2. Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until it is all incorporated. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the Cool Whip. Spread in an even layer over the crust. Refrigerate while the pudding layer is prepared.

3. Make the Pudding Layer: In a large bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow it to set. Use an offset spatula to spread the pudding in an even layer over the cream cheese mixture.

4. Topping: Spread the remaining 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip on top and sprinkle with the reserved Oreo crumbs. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

11, Fri - Ride - Huntsville Veterans Day Parade -- 8am - Meet at IHOP, 6151 University Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806 for breakfast. 9:30am - Depart to staging area off Clinton Ave. (The parade will start at 11am.) Red shirt please. Come and support our veterans. [To reach the staging area, enter the city from the west on Clinton Drive. Go straight on Clinton past the intersection of Clinton and Heart of Huntsville. You will turn Left (north) into "Lot K".]